Apparatus for card handling device calibration

ABSTRACT

A device for automatically calibrating for card size and thickness during card handling is disclosed. The device includes a card receiving area, a card stacking area and a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area. An elevator located in the card stacking area has a movable platform for moving a stack of cards. At least one sensor senses at least one of position of the platform, height of the platform, position of a card in the elevator, height of a card or cards in the elevator, pressure applied to a card in the elevator, presence of the platform at a predetermined height, presence of the platform at a predetermined position, presence of card(s) on the platform, and absence of card(s) on the platform. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/863,749, filed Apr. 16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,904, which willissue Feb. 3, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/275,194, filed Oct. 17, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,419,521,issued Apr. 16, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/444,285, filed May 30, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,038,521,issued Oct. 18, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/926,508, filed Aug. 26, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,384,044, issued Jun. 10, 2008, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/261,166, filed Sep. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.7,036,818, issued May 2, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/128,532, filed Apr. 23, 2002, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,651,982, issued Nov. 25, 2003, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/967,502,filed Sep. 28, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,981, issued Nov. 25, 2003.The disclosure of each of the foregoing patents is hereby incorporatedherein in its entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to shuffling and sorting apparatus for providingrandomly arranged articles and especially to the shuffling of playingcards for gaming uses. The invention also relates to a method andapparatus for providing randomly shuffled deck(s) of cards in a rapidand efficient manner and a capability of automatically calibrating theapparatus during operation and during initial setup to compensate forvarious card sizes and card thicknesses.

2. Background of the Art

In the gaming industry, certain games require that randomly shuffledcards are provided to players and sometimes to dealers in live cardgames. It is important that the cards are shuffled thoroughly andrandomly to prevent players from having an advantage by knowing theposition of specific cards or groups of cards in the final arrangementof cards delivered in the play of the game. At the same time, it isadvantageous to have the deck(s) shuffled in a very short period of timeso that there is minimal downtime in the play of the game.

Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,310 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc., assignee of the present application) describes a card handlingapparatus comprising: a loading station for receiving cards to beshuffled; a chamber to receive a main stack of cards; delivery means fordelivering individual cards from the loading station to the chamber; adispensing station to dispense individual cards for a card game;transfer means for transferring a lowermost card from the main stack tothe dispensing station; and a dispensing sensor for sensing one of thepresence and absence of a card in the dispensing station. The dispensingsensor is coupled to the transfer means to cause a transfer of a card tothe dispensing station when an absence of a card in the dispensingstation is sensed by the dispensing sensor. Individual cards deliveredfrom the loading station are randomly inserted by an insertion meansinto different randomly selected positions in the main stack to obtain arandomly shuffled main stack from which cards are individuallydispensed. The insertion means includes vertically adjustable grippingmeans to separate the main stack into two spaced apart substacks toenable insertion of a card between the substacks by the insertion means.The gripping means is vertically positionable along the edges of themain stack. After gripping, the top portion of the stack is lifted,forming two substacks. At this time, a gap is created between thestacks. This shuffler is marketed under the name QUICKDRAW™ shuffler inthe United States and abroad.

Similarly, Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085 (also assigned toShuffle Master, Inc.) describes an apparatus for shuffling or handling abatch of cards including a chamber in which a main stack of cards issupported, a loading station for holding a secondary stack of cards, anda card separating mechanism for separating cards at a series ofpositions along the main stack. The separating mechanism allows theintroduction of cards from the secondary stack into the main stack atthose positions. The separating mechanism grips cards at the series ofpositions along the stack and lifts those cards at and above theseparation mechanism to define spaces in the main stack for introductionof cards from the secondary stack.

Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,139,014 and 6,068,258 (assigned toShuffle Master, Inc.) describe a machine for shuffling multiple decks ofplaying cards in a batch-type process. The device includes a firstvertically extending magazine for holding a stack of unshuffled playingcards, and second and third vertically extending magazines each forholding a stack of cards, the second and third magazines beinghorizontally spaced from and adjacent to the first magazine. A firstcard mover is positioned at the top of the first magazine for movingcards from the top of the stack of cards in the first magazine to thesecond and third magazines to cut the stack of unshuffled playing cardsinto two unshuffled stacks. Second and third card movers are located atthe top of the second and third magazines, respectively, for randomlymoving cards from the top of the stack of cards in the second and thirdmagazines, respectively, back to the first magazine, therebyinterleaving the cards to form a vertically registered stack of shuffledcards in the first magazine. Elevators are provided in the magazines tobring the cards into contact with the card movers. This shuffler designis currently marketed under the names MD 1® shuffler and MD 1.1™shuffler in the United States and abroad.

Sines et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,368 describes a playing card shufflerhaving an unshuffled stack holder that holds an infeed array of playingcards. One or more ejectors are mounted adjacent the unshuffled stackholder to eject cards from the infeed array at various random positions.Multiple ejectors are preferably mounted on a movable carriage.Extractors are advantageously used to assist in removing playing cardsfrom the infeed array. Removal resistors are used to providecounteracting forces resisting displacement of cards, to thereby providemore selective ejection of cards from the infeed array. The automatedplaying card shuffler comprises a frame; an unshuffled stack holder forholding an unshuffled array of playing cards in a stacked configurationwith adjacent cards in physical contact with each other and forming anunshuffled stack; a shuffled array receiver for holding a shuffled arrayof playing cards; at least one ejector for ejecting playing cardslocated at different positions within the unshuffled stack; and a drivewhich is controllable to achieve a plurality of different relativepositions between the unshuffled stack holder and the at least oneejector. This shuffler design is currently marketed under the nameRANDOM EJECTION SHUFFLER™.

Sines et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,372 describes an automated playingcard shuffler, comprising: a frame; an unshuffled stack holder forholding an unshuffled stack of playing cards; a shuffled stack receiverfor holding a shuffled stack of playing cards; at least one ejectorcarriage mounted adjacent to the unshuffled stack holder, the at leastone ejector carriage and the unshuffled stack holder mounted to providerelative movement between the unshuffled stack holder and the at leastone ejector carriage; a plurality of ejectors mounted upon the at leastone ejector carriage adjacent the unshuffled stack holder for ejectingplaying cards from the unshuffled stack, the ejecting occurring atvarious random positions along the unshuffled stack.

Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,154 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc.) describes an apparatus for moving playing cards from a first groupof cards into plural groups, each of the plural groups containing arandom arrangement of cards, the apparatus comprising: a card receiverfor receiving the first group of unshuffled cards; a single stack ofcard receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, thestack generally adjacent to and movable with respect to the first groupof cards; and a drive mechanism that moves the stack by means oftranslation relative to the first group of unshuffled cards; a cardmoving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack; and aprocessing unit that controls the card moving mechanism and the drivemechanism so that a selected quantity of cards is moved into a selectednumber of compartments. This shuffler is currently marketed under thename ACE® shuffler in the United States and abroad.

Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,096 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc.) describes an apparatus for continuously shuffling playing cards,the apparatus comprising: a card receiver for receiving a first group ofcards; a single stack of card receiving compartments generally adjacentto the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, whereinthe compartments translate substantially vertically, and means formoving the stack; a card moving mechanism between the card receiver andthe stack; a processing unit that controls the card moving mechanism andthe means for moving the stack so that cards placed in the card receiverare moved into selected compartments; a second card receiver forreceiving cards from the compartments; and a second card movingmechanism between the compartments and the second card receiver formoving cards from the compartments to the second card receiver. Thisshuffler design is marketed under the name KING® shuffler in the UnitedStates and abroad.

Johnson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,248 (assigned to Shuffle Master,Inc.) describes an apparatus for arranging playing cards in a desiredorder, the apparatus including: a housing; a sensor to sense playingcards prior to arranging; a feeder for feeding the playing cardssequentially past the sensor; a storage assembly having a plurality ofstorage locations in which playing cards may be arranged in groups in adesired order, wherein the storage assembly is adapted for movement inat least two directions during shuffling; a selectively programmablecomputer coupled to the sensor and to the storage assembly to assemblein the storage assembly groups of playing cards in a desired order; adelivery mechanism for selectively delivering playing cards located inselected storage locations of the storage assembly; and a collector forcollecting arranged groups of playing cards. The storage assembly in oneexample of the invention is a carousel containing a plurality of cardstorage compartments.

Although these and other structures are available for the manufacture ofplaying card shuffling apparatus, new improvements and new designs aredesirable. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a batch-styleshuffler that is faster, provides random shuffling and is more compactthan currently available shuffler designs. It would also be desirable toprovide a shuffler capable of automatically making adjustments tocompensate for varying card dimensions during setup as well as while inoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for forming a set of playing cards in a randomized order isdescribed. The device includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and acard receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards. Arandomizing system is provided for randomizing the initial set ofplaying cards. A collection surface is located in a card collection areafor receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receivingcards so that all cards are received below the top surface of thedevice. An elevator is provided for raising the collection surface sothat at least some randomized cards are elevated at least to the topsurface of the device. An automatic system is provided in the device foraccurately calibrating the vertical position of the collection surface.The automatic system also identifies specific card level positions onstacks of cards placed onto the collection surface. Sensors to identifyat least one card level position and support surface positions are usedto calibrate the performance of card pickup grippers, platformpositions, and card positions on the elevator support platform. Severalautomatic calibration routines are preferably performed by the device.The automated calibration routines ensure a high level of performance ofthe device and reduce or eliminate the need for initial and periodicmanual calibration and for technical maintenance on the device.

At least one card supporting element within the card collection areasupports and suspends a randomly determined number of cards within thecard collection area during shuffling. In one example of the invention,a pair of spaced-apart, vertically disposed gripping members areprovided to grasp the opposite edges of the group of cards beingsuspended. After the cards are gripped, the elevator lowers the cardcollection surface, creating an opening in the stack. A card insertionpoint is created in the card collection area beneath the suspendedrandomly determined group of cards. The card feed mechanism delivers acard into the insertion point. The elevator is then raised, and thesuspended cards are then released, forming a single group of cards.

The device of the present invention preferably includes an integrallyformed automated calibration system. One function of the automatedcalibration system is to identify the position of the elevator supportplatform relative to a lowermost gripping position of the grippers sothat the stack of cards can be separated at a precise location in thestack and so that a specific number of cards can be accurately liftedand specific card insert positions can be determined for insertion ofcards into the randomizing stack of cards.

Another function of the automated calibration system of the presentinvention is to automatically adjust the position of the grippers tocompensate for different card lengths, widths, and/or thicknesses.

Yet another function of the automated calibration system is to determinea number of incremental movements of elevator stepper motors thatcorresponds to the thickness of each card. This information is then usedto determine a precise location of the elevator in order to form eachpoint of separation in the group of cards during shuffling.

An elevator is provided for raising and lowering a movable card supportsurface. In operation, a vertical position of the elevator is randomlyselected and the support surface is moved to the selected position.After a gripping arm grasps at least one side of the cards, and moretypically two opposite sides of the cards, the elevator lowers,suspending a group of cards, and creating a space (or point ofinsertion) beneath the gripping arm, wherein a single card is moved fromthe infeed compartment into the space created, thereby randomizing theorder of the cards.

A method of calibrating a shuffling machine prior to and during therandomization of a group of cards is described. The method comprises thesteps of placing a group of cards to be randomized into a card infeedtray and removing a calibration card from the infeed tray, and placingthe card in the card randomizing area, also known as the card collectionarea. The elevator and grippers are operated until a precise location ofthe card that can be gripped is identified. Either before or after thiscalibration process, the card width is measured, and the grippers areadjusted to put sufficient tension on the cards to suspend the entiregroup of cards to be shuffled.

According to the invention, cards are individually fed from the cardinfeed tray and delivered into a card collection area. The cardcollection area has a movable lower surface, and a stationary openingfor receiving cards from the infeed tray. The method includes elevatingthe movable lower surface to a randomly determined height and graspingat least one edge of a group of cards in the card collection area at apoint just above the stationary opening. The method further includes thesteps of lowering the movable lower surface to create an opening in astack of cards formed on the lower surface, the opening located justbeneath a lowermost point where the cards are grasped, and inserting acard removed from the infeed tray into the opening.

A device capable of automatically calibrating is described that iscapable of automatically making adjustments to process cards ofdifferent dimensions. The device includes a card infeed tray, a cardmoving mechanism that transports cards from the infeed tray into a cardcollection area; an elevator within the card collection area that raisesand lowers the group of fed cards; a device capable of suspending all orpart of the fed cards above the card feeder; and a microprocessor thatselects the position in the stack where the next card is to be inserted,and instructs the device capable of the suspending and the elevator tocreate a gap, and then instructs the card moving mechanism to insert thecard.

A device for card handling is disclosed. The device includes a cardreceiving area for receiving an initial set of cards, a card stackingarea for receiving cards from the card receiving area, a card movingsystem for moving cards from the card receiving area to the cardstacking area, and an elevator in the card stacking area with a movingplatform for moving a stack of cards. The device also includes acollection surface on the moving platform in the elevator, a processorassociated with the device, the processor being programmed withsoftware, a motor to move the platform within the elevator and at leastone sensor for sensing at least one of a) position of the platform, b)height of the platform, c) position of a card in the elevator, d) heightof a card or cards in the elevator, e) pressure applied to a card in theelevator, e) presence of the platform at a predetermined height, f)presence of the platform at a predetermined position, g) presence ofcard(s) on the platform, and h) absence of card(s) on the platform. Thesoftware is programmed to automatically calibrate the device to enablethe device to accurately handle cards during card shuffling. A processoris provided having software that can be accessed to direct the device toautomatically calibrate the device during shuffling to enable the deviceto accurately handle cards.

A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling isdisclosed. The method is practiced by providing a device having a cardreceiving area and a card stacking area comprising an elevator with acard support platform and grippers. The method includes feeding at leasttwo initial cards into a card stacking area, automatically identifying atarget elevator height that corresponds to a height at which at least asingle card on the card support platform is gripped leaving one card onthe platform and randomly feeding remaining cards into the card stackingarea.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a flowchart depicting an automatic calibration process of onepreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of an exterior shell of ashuffling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side elevational view of internal elements of ashuffling apparatus according to teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of an offset card transportmechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of an offset card transport mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a picking systemwith a single or joint belt drive for moving picker elements.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a shufflingapparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side cutaway view of one embodiment of a shufflingapparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second example of an exterior shellof a shuffling apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An automatic shuffling device is described for forming a randomlyarranged set of playing cards. One embodiment of the device of thepresent invention shuffles between one and eight or more decks of cards(standard deck or decks of 52 cards each or 52 cards plus one or twojokers) in a batch process and is particularly well suited for providingcards for games such as baccarat and multi-deck blackjack, for example.Another embodiment of the invention is suitable for shuffling either asingle deck or two decks of cards to be used in hand-pitched games suchas poker, single deck blackjack and double deck blackjack.

The device of an embodiment of the invention includes a top surface anda bottom surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set ofplaying cards to be randomized and a randomizing system for randomizingan order of the initial set of playing cards. The device furtherincludes a card collection area and a card collection surface within thecard collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, thecollection surface receiving cards in a manner such that that all cardsare inserted into the collection area below the top surface of thedevice. An elevator is provided for raising and lowering the collectionsurface during shuffling, and elevating the shuffled (alternativelyreferred to as “randomized”) group of cards at least as high as the topsurface of the device after shuffling (that is, the lowest card in theshuffled group of cards is raised to a level where it may be easily andmanually removed from that level, preferably with the lowest card beinglevel with or above a plane defining the top surface of the device). Acard suspension mechanism, such as a pair of oppositely spaced grippers,is provided to grasp some or all of the cards on the card collectionsurface. After some cards are gripped, the elevator is lowered, creatinga gap or point of insertion for the next card to be fed. Once shufflingis complete, the stack of cards is elevated, and it can be removed by anattendant or dealer and used for dealing. While cards are being dealt, asecond group of cards is being randomized. The use of two separategroups of cards on one gaming table eliminates any waiting on the partof the dealer or the casino patrons between rounds of play, because onegroup of cards is being shuffled while the other group of cards is usedin play of a game.

There are a number of special features that combine to make the presentinvention a significant advance over previously described card shufflingsystems and card shuffling processes. Individual features thatconstitute an advance, alone or in combination with other features,include a system for automatically calibrating and inspecting theposition and performance of an elevator for moving the final set ofrandomized cards upwardly so that the stack is accessible to the dealeror attendant. In one example of the invention, the elevator elevates theentire group of shuffled cards to the playing table surface. The sameelevator advantageously assists in accomplishing shuffling within thecard collection and/or card mixing area.

The card collection area in one example of the invention has a pluralityof vertical supports (e.g., two or three walls, or four walls with amanually accessible area where the lowest card may be gripped), and amovable lower surface. The elevator supports this movable lower surface(also referred to herein as the collection surface) and causes thesurface to move back and forth (relatively up and down) in asubstantially vertical direction. One function of the movement of theelevator (during the shuffling or randomizing sequence) is to position astack of cards within the card collection area so that a card or cardscan be inserted into the stack in a specifically selected or randomlyselected precise position within the stack to randomize, organize orarrange the cards in a desired order, such as a “pack order” forinspection (particularly after reading the suit and rank of cards), orrandomized into a shuffled set of cards that can be dealt to players.The insertion of cards may be performed in a number of ways, such as bylifting or by dropping a section of the stack and inserting one or more(and preferably just one) card into the gap, by positioning the stacknear a card insertion position and inserting one or more cards into thestack, or inserting a wedge-like element or blade between cards in thestack to elevate a portion of the stack where card(s) may be inserted(as described in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,189 (assigned toShuffle Master, Inc.), which is incorporated herein by reference).

In a preferred mode of operation of the shuffler of the presentinvention, a picking, gripping or separating system is provided forsuspending all of or segments of the stack of cards present in the cardcollection area, creating an opening in the group of cards so that anext card or cards can be inserted in specific locations relative toother cards in the stack. A variant of this system is described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,651,981 (assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc. and which isincorporated herein by reference). According to that invention, thepicking, gripping or card suspending system is fixed in the verticaldirection. By randomly selecting a vertical position for the movablebase of the card receiving area prior to picking, the location of anopening created in the stack of cards by gripping a portion of the cardsand lowering another portion of the cards below the gripping area isvaried, with random insertion of cards into these openings causingrandomization of the cards.

Offset rollers are the preferred mechanism provided for moving theindividual cards from the card receiving area into the card collectionarea, although air jets, belts, injection plates, injection blades, andthe like, may also be used for moving individual cards or small numbersof cards (e.g., one, two, three, four or five cards) into the cardreceiving area. A stack stabilizing area is provided, in one example ofthe invention, for receiving an elevated final set of cards lifted fromthe card collection area. This stack stabilization area should bepositioned or positionable above the top of the device or should beginat the top of the device.

In another example of the invention, the elevator itself is equippedwith a stack stabilizing structure that is lowered into the inside ofthe shuffler prior to the randomization of cards. In one embodimentlater described in greater detail, a delivery or elevator platformprovides its own card stabilization area, or, in conjunction with anelevator drive arm, provides such a card stabilization area. A singlebelt drive is provided in one example of the invention for driving twospaced-apart and opposed, vertically disposed picking elements in a cardsegment picking system. The picking elements are vertically disposedalong the path of movement of the collection area of cards in thecollection area, and are horizontally disposed or opposed with respectto each other. The picking elements are preferably fixed with respect tothe vertical.

A microprocessor is provided that employs a random number generator toidentify or create an intended (including random) distribution of aninitial set of cards in the card receiving area at the conclusion ofshuffling. The microprocessor executes movement of elements in theshuffling apparatus, including the opposed picking elements and theelevator, to effect placement of each card into spaces in the stackcreated by the shuffling apparatus, and a randomized set of cards israpidly formed. That same microprocessor (in the shuffling device or inan associated game device) or a separate or parallel microprocessor isused to direct the calibration steps. In one example of the invention,the picking elements move horizontally to grasp opposite edges of agroup of cards. Other suspension systems are contemplated, such asinserting a flat or pointed member between the cards above the point ofseparation.

The individual and combined elements of the invention will be describedin detail, after a more general description of the invention isprovided. A first general description of the invention is a device forforming a randomized set of playing cards comprising: a top surface anda bottom surface of the device; a receiving area for an initial set ofplaying cards; a randomizing system for randomizing the order of theinitial set of playing cards; a collection surface in a card collectionarea for receiving the randomized playing cards; an elevator for raisingthe collection surface within the card collection area; and at least onecard supporting element within the card collection area that ishorizontally fixed with respect to the vertical. The card supportingelement will support and suspend a precise number of a randomlydetermined number of cards within the card collection area to create agap or space within the stack of cards within the collection area thatis a card insertion point. The card insertion point or gap is created inthe card collection area just below the lowermost portion of the cardsupporting element or elements. The card supporting elements thensupport a next group of cards, and the elevator beneath the cardcollection area is lowered, lowering a remaining group of cards andcreating a gap. Preferably a card feed mechanism is stationary and feedscards individually into a gap created in the stack.

The device may have one or more card supporting elements comprising atleast one card supporting element vertically disposed on at least oneside of the card collection area. In the alternative, the cardsupporting elements include at least two opposed supporting elements,such as flexible or soft (e.g., polymeric, elastomer, rubber orrubber-coated) gripping elements that can move inwardly along ahorizontal plane within the card collection area to contact and supportthe opposite edges of at least a portion of the stack, substack, orgroup of cards. Or, a horizontally disposed flat member, such as a pairof forks or a flat plate, may be inserted between the cards, so thatwhen the elevator is lowered, an insertion point or gap is formed. A“substack” may be defined as all cards within the collection area at orabove a randomly selected card or position in the stack within the cardcollection area.

The device preferably has a microprocessor communicatively connected tothe device. The microprocessor in one example of the invention isprogrammed to determine a distance that the card supporting surface mustbe vertically moved in order to position each card in the desired orderwithin the stack. In one example of the invention, cards fed into thecard collection area may be placed anywhere in the stack, including thetop or bottom position. This flexibility advantageously allows for amore random shuffle and avoids “dead” areas within the collected stackof cards.

The device of the present invention advantageously senses the length orwidth of the cards and adjusts the horizontal distance between thegripping arms so that cards of varying lengths or widths can besuspended. Whether the width or length is sensed depends on thedesigner's selected location of the grippers within the card collectionarea.

In one example of the invention, the microprocessor instructs the deviceto feed a first single card into the card collection area and to gripthe card at a width representing the width of a standard group of cards.If the sensors sense that a card is suspended, no adjustments to ahorizontal spacing between gripping arms is necessary. If no suspendedcards are sensed, the microprocessor instructs an adjustable grippingsupport mechanism to move a preselected horizontal distance and thegripping and sensing process is repeated. When the final adjustment hasbeen made, cards are suspended and their presence is sensed. Themicroprocessor then retains this gripping mechanism distance setting.Alternatively, when the processor instructs the grippers to suspend oneor more cards and no suspended cards are sensed, the adjustment sequenceis activated. This entire process will be described in further detailbelow.

The microprocessor is communicatively connected to the device and ismost preferably located within the exterior shell of the device. Themicroprocessor may be programmed to lower the card collection surfacewithin the card collection area a specified distance after the at leastone card supporting element has contacted and supported cards,suspending a group of cards within the card collection area and leavingother cards on the card collection surface, thereby creating twovertically spaced substacks of cards, one suspended, separated by a gapor opening between the cards. Recognition of the presence of suspendedand/or supported card(s) within the card collection area may be providedby sensors that are capable of sensing the presence of card(s) withinthe area by physical (e.g., weight), mechanical (e.g., pressure),electrical (e.g., resistance or conductance), optical (e.g., reflective,opacification, reading) or other known sensing methods. Themicroprocessor may direct movement of one or more individual cards intothe gap created between the two segments (upper and lower) of cards. Themicroprocessor may be programmed to randomly determine a distance thatthe card supporting surface must be vertically moved in order toposition at least one specific card. This method, including measurementof card thickness, will be described in more detail below. In thealternative, the microprocessor may be programmed to select a specificcard position below or above a certain card, and then create the gap.When the card supporting element moves to contact cards within the cardcollection area, and the elevator moves the card supporting surfacedownwardly, a gap is created for receiving the next card.

The elevator operates in a unique manner to position cards relative tothe pickers or grippers within the shuffling chamber. This uniqueoperation offers significant benefits that remove the need for humanintervention in the setup or continuing operation of the shufflingdevice. Among the alternative and optional unique features of theoperation of the shuffling device of the present invention are includedthe following sequence of events. These events need not necessarily becombined within a single process to represent inventive steps, asindividual steps and combinations of two or more steps may be used todefine inventive processes.

According to one method, in order to calibrate the shuffling device ofthe present invention to operate for a particular card size, acalibration set of cards comprising at least one card (usually one,although two, three, four or more cards could be used) is inserted intothe shuffling chamber prior to shuffling. Calibration is typicallycalled for (either manually or automatically) when a new deck or groupof cards is inserted into the machine, and prior to shuffling. Theelevator base plate defining the base of the shuffling chamber moves thecalibration set of cards to the position within the chamberapproximating a position within the gripper (not necessarily at a levelor equal position with the bottom of the grippers), and the grippersmove inwardly (toward opposed edges of the cards) and attempts to gripthe card(s). If the gripper successfully grips the card(s), a sensoridentifies either that the card(s) have been gripped by the grippers orthat the card(s) remain on the collection surface of the elevator(depending upon the position of the sensors). If there is no indicationthat card(s) have been gripped, then the grippers move inwardly towardeach other horizontally a set number of steps (e.g., “steps” being unitsof movement, as in movement through a microstepping motor or unit ofmovement through any other motivating system), and the process isrepeated. This gripping, sensing and moving sequence is repeated untilthe sensor(s) sense that a card has been lifted off the support plateand/or is supported in the grippers. The microprocessor identifies afixed progression of steps or predetermined sizes of steps that are usedin this gripping calibration as well as the position that accomplishedthe gripping. These determinations of card dimensions, grippingpositions and elevator position may be done independently and/or inconcert.

The offset position (i.e., in a horizontal direction) of the grippingarms is first set. The grippers move inwardly a predetermined distance,initially and in repeated testing. For example, in the first coarsegripping attempt, the grippers may move in 10 or 15 or other number ofsteps. A larger number than one step or unit is initially desirable toensure that a rapid first grip is attained. After the first grip of acard(s) is sensed, then the microprocessor will widen the grip by fixednumbers of steps (here single steps may be used), with the wideningoccurring until no card is gripped. Once no card is gripped, asufficient number of finer gripping steps are added to the grippermovement to ensure gripping even when there is slight elastic bending ofthe card by the grippers so that more cards can be supported and so thatcards will not slip. This may be 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, or any othernumber of steps, to ensure that secure gripping is effected. Thisprocedure defines the “gripping” and “card release” position of thegrippers for a particular group of cards. The microprocessor records thestepper motor positions corresponding to the gripper positions and usesthis information to position the grippers during shuffling.

Next, the platform height offset is to be set (i.e., in a verticaldirection). The elevator is put in a base or home position, which may bethe position of the elevator (the height of the elevator) at the lowestposition possible, or at a position below a framing support at the baseof the collection chamber or some other predetermined position. Theelevator is then raised in a coarse series of a number of steps (again,in the initial gripping attempt, using larger numbers of steps isdesirable to speed up the overall process, while during a more refinedpositioned identification/calibration sequence, smaller numbers of steps(i.e., finer steps), even single steps, would be used) and the grippersare activated after each step, until the card (or set of cards) iscaught by the gripper for the first time. The number of steps moved eachtime for the first gripping action is preferably larger than singlesteps to ensure that this card will be gripped at the lowermost edge ofthe grippers. Again, this may be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, etc., steps(or any number in between or a larger number of steps). Once thecalibration set of card(s) (typically one card) is gripped, this is anindication that the platform has now raised the cards to an elevationthat is at least the elevation of the bottom of the grippers. Oncegripping has occurred, the elevator is then lowered by a smaller numberof incremental stop positions (a finer adjustment) and a new positionevaluated as to whether the grippers would then grip the calibrationcard or cards. The process is repeated until the calibration card isjust below the lowermost gripping position. This position is thenrecorded in memory. The repositioning is accomplished by lowering theelevator and support plate to a position well below the grippers andthen raising the plate to a position a predetermined number of stepslower than the last position where the card(s) was gripped, and sensingwhether the card was gripped at the new position. Depending upon thearrangement of the sensors, plates, and cards, it is possible to merelyungrip the card, then lower the elevator one or more predeterminednumber of steps, then attempt to regrip the card, and sense whether thecard has been gripped.

Once the card has been lowered just below the gripper, a secondcalibration card is added to the card collection surface. The elevatorposition is registered and/or recorded. The precision of the systemenables options in the practice of the invention, such as the following.After a single card has been gripped, and a position determined wherethat single card will not be gripped with a slightly lowered elevatorposition (e.g., movement downward, which may be anywhere from two totwenty steps or more), another calibration card or cards may then beadded to the shuffling chamber on top of the calibration card(s). Theelevator and grippers may then be exercised, with the elevator movingsingle steps until the sensor(s) determine that one card has beengripped and lifted off the support plate and another card(s) remains onthe support plate. To this position is added a number of steps equal toa card's thickness, and this final position is defined as the platformoffset and identifies the position where the bottommost card would belifted off of the support plate.

Prior to inserting the first calibration card, the elevator is raised toa predetermined sensed position in the card collection area, and thatposition or elevation is recorded in memory. After the first group ofcards are inserted and randomized, the procedure is repeated, this timeeither measuring the height of the elevator when the top card in thestack was at the original height of the elevator, or measuring a newheight of the top of the stack of cards when the elevator returns tothat recorded position. The difference in distances represents thethickness of the deck or group of cards. As each card is fed into thecard collection surface, the number of cards are counted and this numberis recorded. The processor uses both pieces of information to calculatean average card thickness, and to associate the number of motor steps toone card's thickness. This information is then used in positioning theelevator for precise placement in the next shuffle.

At this point, all of the remaining cards in the deck(s) may be added tothe shuffling chamber (either directly, or into the card receivingchamber and then into the card shuffling chamber). The system may thencheck on the efficiency of the grippers by raising the deck to a levelwhere all cards should be gripped, the grippers grip the entire deck(one, two, three or more times), and the elevator lowered. If no cardsare dropped in the chamber, the system may proceed to normal shufflingprocedures. If the grippers leave one or more cards, or one or morecards fall back into the shuffling chamber, the gripper action may beautomatically or manually (by an operator signal) adjusted to providedgreater force on the cards (i.e., in a horizontal direction), and thedeck lift procedure is then attempted again, until the entire deck islifted. The entire calibration process may have to be repeated if thereis any uncorrectable failure in a complete deck lift test procedure.

The shuffler preferably includes a multiple-segment information displayas described in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,373 entitled“Method and Apparatus for Automatically Cutting and Shuffling PlayingCards,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Thedisplay may then indicate information relating to the state of theshuffler, such as the indication “AUTO ADJUST COMPLETE,” and theoperator may proceed with normal shuffling procedures, with or withoutfurther instruction on the display panel.

The calibration process described above is preferably repeatedperiodically to compensate for swelling and bending of the cards. Theprocess may be repeated after a specified number of shuffling cycles,after a specified period of time, after a specified amount of use, whena new group of cards is inserted into the machine, at the request of theuser, or by any other means. In a preferred form of the invention, twocards are initially fed into the device and separated prior to each newshuffle to verify that the device is still properly calibrated. If thecards do not separate, the calibration sequence is initiated. The deviceof the present invention includes a jam recovery feature similar to thatdescribed in Breeding et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,373, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. However, upon the fourth (orother number of failures) failure to recover from a jam, one or more ofthe calibration features described above are automatically activated.

This element of the total calibration process will thus calibrate theshuffling device in advance of any shuffling procedure with respect tothe position of the bottom card (the card touching the elevator baseplate or support plate) by moving the elevator up and down, by grippingand regripping the cards to identify a position where no cards aregripped and then a position where only one card is gripped. The othergripping-regripping procedure within the total calibration process willalso identify and calibrate the shuffling apparatus with respect to theunique size of cards placed into the shuffling apparatus, and tocompensate for card swelling, card wear and any other circumstance thataffects the dimensions of the cards. Based on the knowledge of how manycards have been inserted into the shuffling chamber in the calibrationset (preferably one card and then two cards total), the microprocessoridentifies and determines the position of the elevator support plate,the appropriate position of the elevator support plate with respect tothe grippers and also the relative height of the number of cards in theset on the elevator card support plate.

This information is stored for use with the particular stack of cards tobe used in the shuffling process. When subsequent decks are inserted,the operator may optionally indicate that the decks are sufficientlysimilar that the entire process need not be performed or that theprocess be initiated, or the machine may automatically make a check of asingle card to determine if it appears to be the same size and theninitiate the shuffling program if the card is identified as the samesize.

Additionally or alternatively, once the calibration set of cards hasbeen first gripped, the grippers release the cards and regrip the cards,measuring any one or more of the following: a) position of the grippersrelative to each other (with one or more of the two opposed grippersmoving, the “steps” or other measurable indicator of extent of movementor position of the grippers) is determined and registered for use by themicroprocessor; b) the force or tension between the grippers with thecalibration set of cards or only one card gripped between the grippers;c) the height of a top card (or the single card) in the calibration setwhen cards are flexed by the force of the grippers (which may bemeasured by sensor positions in the shuffling chamber); or d) any othersystem that identifies and/or measures a property or conditionindicative of the gripping of the cards with a force in a range betweena force insufficient to support the weight of the calibration setagainst slippage and bending the cards to a point where a card mightlift off other cards in the calibration set. The calibration distance istypically in a range of between 93% and 99.5% of the width or, moretypically, the length of the cards, as measured by gripper movement.

The positioning, repositioning and gripping of the cards are performedautomatically and directed by the microprocessor or an additionalmicroprocessor (there may even be a networked central control computer,but a microprocessor in the device is preferred). The elevator and thegrippers are moved by steps or microsteps by a microstepping motor orother fine-movement control system (e.g., hydraulic system, screwsystem, geared system, and the like). The use of the automatic processeliminates the need for technicians to set up and periodically adjustindividual machines, which must be done at regular intervals because ofwear on parts or when cards are replaced. As noted, the positioning maybe performed with a calibration set as small as a single card. After theautomated calibration or position determination has been performed, themicroprocessor remembers that position and shuffling can be initiatedwith the stack of cards from which the calibration cards were taken.

This calibration or preshuffling protocol may be used in conjunctionwith any system where an elevator is used, whether with grippers, cardinserting devices, injectors, and the like (as described above), and notonly the specific apparatus shown in the figures. A similar calibrationsystem for determining specific positions of carousel chambers in acarousel-type shuffling device may also be used, without grippers. Thecarousel may be rotated and the position of the shelves in the carouselwith respect to other functional elements in the device may bedetermined. For example, card reading devices, card injectioncomponents, card removal elements, and card receiving chambers may becalibrated with regard to each other. As is understood by thoseordinarily skilled in the art, there may be variations chosen amongcomponents, sequences of steps, and types of steps performed, with thosechanges still reflecting the spirit and scope of the invention disclosedherein.

In addition, the card collection chamber need not be verticallydisposed. The chamber could be angled with respect to the vertical toimprove contact between the card edges and the support structure locatedwithin the card collection area.

As noted, this description reflects a detailed description of thepreferred practice of the invention with grippers. Alternative systems,such as those with injectors or stack wedges, may also be used with thecalibration system of the invention with modifications reflecting thedifferent systems. For example, where the calibration in the preferredembodiment addresses the level of the grippers with respect to cards andthe elevator support plate, the system may be translated to calibrationof air injectors, wedge lifters, and blade or plate injectors. This isdone with an equivalent procedure for identifying the position of acard(s) placed on the support plate. For example, rather than performingrepeated tests with a gripper, repeated tests may be performed with anair injector (to see when a card is ejected or injected by itsoperation), a blade or plate injector (to see when a card is ejected orinjected by its operation), or a wedge separator with associated card(s)insertion (to see when the stack (e.g., a single card or a number ofcards) is raised or when a card may be ejected or injected by itsoperation with minimum force).

The device of the present invention is also capable of monitoring cardthickness and uses this information to accurately determine the locationor position in the stack where separation is to occur.

In another embodiment, a first sensor located in the shuffling chambersenses the height of the platform within the shuffling chamber in itslowermost position prior to the beginning of the randomization process,when no cards are in the shuffling chamber. The sensor could also sensethe platform position in any other predetermined or “home” position orassign such nomenclature to a position.

After randomization, when all cards have been transferred into theshuffling chamber, the platform is returned to this same position, andthe same or another sensor located in the shuffling chamber (alsoreferred to herein as the collection chamber) may sense the height ofthe top card in the stack. The difference between the two measurementsrepresents the thickness of the stack of cards. This is an alternatemethod of measuring stack thickness.

Sensors (such as optical sensors, sonic sensors, physical sensors,electrical sensors, and the like, as previously described) sense cardsas they are individually fed from the infeed tray into the shufflingchamber. This information is used by the microprocessor to verify thatthe expected number of cards is present. In one example of theinvention, if cards are missing or extra cards are present, the displaywill indicate a misdeal and will automatically unload.

The microprocessor may use the two height measurements and the cardcount to calculate an average card thickness. This thickness measurementis used to determine at what height the elevator must be in order toseparate the stack between any two “target” cards.

The average card thickness can be recalculated each time the shuffler isactivated upon power-up, or according to a schedule, such as every 10 to30 minutes, with 20-minute intervals as one preferred example.

The inventors have recognized that deck thickness increases the more thecards are used, as humidity in the air increases, and when cards becomeworn. Under humid conditions, it might be desirable to check the cardthickness more often than every 20 minutes. Under extreme conditions ofcontinuous use and high humidity, it might be desirable to recalculatean average card thickness after the completion of every shuffle.

A novel method of determining an average card thickness during shufflingis disclosed herein as an invention. The method includes providing astack of cards, providing a card feeder capable of relative motionbetween the card feeder and the stack, and determining a home positionof the stack platform. The home position indicates a height of theelevator platform when no cards are present in the stacking area. Themethod further includes feeding cards into the stacking area, counting anumber of cards placed into the stacking area as they are fed andsensing a height of a topmost card in the stack when the elevator isreturned to the same home position. An average card thickness is thencomputed from the collected information (e.g., stack height divided bythe number of cards equals the height per card).

The average card thickness is advantageously used to determine theposition of card grippers used to grasp cards. Upon lowering theplatform beneath the grippers, an opening is formed at a precisepredetermined location, allowing precise placement of the next cardbetween two cards.

According to the present invention, a sensor is positioned at a point ofinsertion into the group of cards in the card collection area. Each timea gap is formed, the sensor verifies that the gap is open, e.g., that nocards are suspended or are hanging due to static forces. The card feederactivates when the sensor indicates the opening is clear. This methodavoids jams and provides faster shuffling as compared to programming atime delay between the gripping of cards and subsequent lowering of theelevator and the insertion of the next card.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the shuffler is capable ofmonitoring card thickness and width, and making adjustments during theoperation of the shuffler. Specifically, a number of sensors monitor thecard separation process. Any errors related to card separation aredetected and a calibration routine is automatically triggered.

According to a second illustrated embodiment of a calibration method, atthe beginning of each shuffle, at least two cards, and preferably justtwo cards, are deposited onto the platform. Prior to or concurrent withthe random delivery of cards, a testing and calibration process occurs.The gripping width may or may not be adjusted at this time. In apreferred form of the invention, the gripping width is adjusted prior toperforming the steps outlined below.

The platform height is adjusted so that the grippers are capable ofseparating the two cards, thereby suspending a card and leaving theother card on the platform. Once the platform height resulting in aseparation of the two cards is determined, the stepper motor position(relating to a specific elevator position) is stored in memory. Thisposition corresponds to the target position of the elevator. The heightis determined by moving the shaft of the stepper motor a predefinednumber of steps, resulting in a rough platform distance adjustment,followed by gripping, sensing, and then moving the stepper motor smallernumbers of steps, resulting in a finer elevator distance adjustment, asdescribed above. This process is repeated until an elevator height thataccomplishes card separation (with the least amount of force) isdetermined. After this height is determined, the two-card separationprocess is repeated another number of additional times, such as two,three, four, or five additional times, to verify that the elevatorheight adjustment is accurate for the cards currently in the machine.

The system continues to monitor the platform and grippers through atleast a platform sensor and a gripper sensor. According to the preferredprocess, additional initial cards are added, e.g., between two and ten,and preferably eight. As each card is loaded, the elevator moves to thetarget position and the machine tests its ability to lift all of thecards except one after each new card is inserted. After the additionalinitial cards are randomly inserted, the device resumes normal shufflingoperation and ceases testing. Shuffling then proceeds in the usualmanner.

A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling isdisclosed. The method is practiced by providing a device having a cardreceiving area and a card stacking area comprising an elevator with acard support platform and grippers. The method includes feeding at leasttwo initial cards into a card stacking area, automatically identifying atarget elevator height that corresponds to a height at which at least asingle card on the card support platform is gripped, while one cardremains on the platform, storing the target elevator height and randomlyfeeding remaining cards into the card stacking area.

According to a preferred method as shown in FIG. 1A, a novel cardcalibration method is illustrated. A first card is inserted from thecard feeder onto the platform 1 a. Then a second card is inserted 2 a ontop of the first card. The shuffler makes the necessary adjustments to aheight of the platform 3 a (and optionally to the gripper width) inorder to accomplish separation of the two cards. When the system sensorsdetect a state of card separation (e.g., when the gripper only picks upone card 4 a), the height of the platform (or another measurementcorresponding to height) is stored in memory. The elevator is loweredand then moved back to this stored position up to five additional times.After repeated successful separations, a next card (in this example, athird card) is inserted 6 a. The height of the platform is then adjusted8 a and the grippers grip all of the cards except one card. The elevatorplatform height is lowered and the sensors determine if just one cardremains on the surface of the elevator platform 7 a. Once the desiredresult is obtained, i.e., one card remains on the elevator, shufflingcontinues 9 a or this gripping and testing process is repeated multipletimes to verify the accuracy of the elevator height. In an alternativeembodiment, the system verifies that at least one card is positioned inthe gripper, and the remaining cards are located on the elevator.

Up to seven additional initial cards are inserted, and thegripping/checking sequence is performed with the addition of eachadditional card, until a predetermined number of cards have beeninserted. In one form of the invention, the target elevator height istested and adjusted if necessary each time a new card is added, until apredetermined number of cards have been inserted, such as between fiveand fifteen cards, and typically ten cards. In other forms of theinvention, the target elevator height is repeatedly tested after eachgroup of an initial predetermined number of cards have been randomlyinserted, or is tested on a random or on any other periodic basis.Although in a preferred form of the invention, the testing ceases afterthe first ten initial cards are delivered, the invention contemplatestesting the target elevator height at any time during the shuffle.

The initial group of cards is typically delivered according to arandomly determined order. In other forms of the invention, the firstgroup of cards is delivered sequentially. Since the machine is capableof verifying that the initially fed cards are capable of separation,feeding the initial group of cards sequentially does not adverselyimpact randomness. Once the initial calibration process is complete,random delivery of the remainder of the cards is accomplished.

Another general description of a preferred device according to theinvention is a device for forming a randomized set of playing cards, thedevice comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface of the device; areceiving area for supporting an initial set of playing cards to berandomized; a randomizing system for randomizing the initial set ofplaying cards; and a collection surface in a card collection area forreceiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface being movablein a vertical direction. In one example of the invention, cards arereceived onto the collection surface, either positioned directly on thesurface or positioned indirectly on a card supported by the surface. Allcards being randomized in this example are inserted into the cardcollection area at a location below the top surface of the device. Inone example, cards are fed individually off of the bottom of the stacklocated in the card receiving area and into the card collection area.

An elevator is provided for raising the collection surface so that atthe conclusion of shuffling, at least some randomized cards are elevatedto a position at or above the top surface of the device. The elevatormay be capable of raising all or part of the randomized cards at orabove the top surface of the device. A cover may be provided to protector mask the cards until they are elevated into a delivery position fromwhich a dealer may remove the cards manually. The device may have astack stabilizing area defined by a confining set of walls defining ashuffled card delivery area that confines all randomized cards along atleast two, and preferably three, edges after the randomized cards areelevated.

Alternatively, the card collection surface itself, elements positionedon the top surface of the shuffler or elements moved above the topsurface of the shuffler may act to stabilize the cards so that they aremore easily removed by the dealer's hand(s). The present invention alsocontemplates raising the shuffled group of cards to the top surface ofthe shuffler, where there are no confining structures around the cards.In one example of the invention, the top surface of the shuffler isflush-mounted into the gaming table surface, and the cards are delivereddirectly to the gaming table surface after shuffling.

The delivery area may be positioned such that its lower interior surfaceis at the same elevation as the top surface of the shuffler. The lowerinterior surface may be elevated above the top surface, or positionedbeneath the top surface of the shuffler. In one example of theinvention, the lower interior surface is at the same elevation as thetop of the exterior of the shuffler. If the shuffler is mounted into andcompletely surrounded by a gaming table surface, it would be desirableto deliver cards so that the bottom card in the stack is at the sameelevation as the gaming table surface.

The card receiving area may be sloped downwardly toward randomizingcomponents of the system to assist movement of playing cards. The devicemay have at least one pick-off roller to remove cards one at a time fromthe card receiving area and to move cards, one at a time, toward therandomizing components of the system. Although in one example of theinvention the randomizing system suspends cards and inserts cards in agap created below the suspended cards, other randomization systems canbe employed, such as the random ejection shuffling technique disclosedin Sines et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,483, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. At least one pair of speed-uprollers desirably receives cards from the at least one pick-off roller.A microprocessor preferably controls movement of the pick-off roller andthe at least one pair of speed up rollers. The first card is preferablymoved by the pick-off roller so that, as later described in greaterdetail, movement of the pick-off roller is altered (i.e., stopped orotherwise altered so that tension contact with the card is reduced orended) so that no card other than the first (lowermost) card is moved byeither the pick-off roller or the at least one pair of speed-up rollers.This can be done by sensing of the movement or tension on the first cardaffected by the at least one pair of speed-up rollers, causing thepick-off roller to disengage from the drive mechanism and freely rotateand to not propel the card.

The microprocessor, for example, may be programmed to direct thepick-off roller to disengage from the drive mechanism and to ceasepropelling a first card being moved by the pick-off roller when it issensed that the first card is being moved by the at least one pair ofspeed-up rollers. A preferred randomization system moves one card at atime into an area overlying the collection surface. It is desirable tohave one card at a time positioned into a randomized set of playingcards over the playing card collection surface. Again, as with the firstgeneral structure, the card collection area may be bordered on twoopposed sides by two vertically disposed, horizontally opposed movablecard supporting elements. There is preferably an insertion point, suchas an opening or slot, to the card collection area that is located belowa bottom edge of the two movable card supporting elements. The cardsupporting surface is vertically positionable within the card collectionarea, usually under the control and direction of a microprocessor. Forexample, the card supporting surface is moved by a motivator or elevatorthat is able to move incremental vertical distances that are no greaterthan the thickness of a playing card, such as incremental verticaldistances that are no greater than one-half the thickness of a playingcard. The motor may be, for example, a microstepper motor or an analogmotor.

A sensor may be present within the collection area, below the topsurface of the device, the sensor detecting a position of a top card ofa group of cards in the card collection area below the group ofsuspended cards. In the alternative or in concert, the sensor detectsthe level of the card collection surface. In addition, a preferredembodiment of the device monitors the elevation of the top card when thetwo groups of cards are combined into one group, and adjusts for changesin the thickness of the deck due to swelling, humidity, card wear,bowing of cards, etc. A microprocessor is preferably present in thedevice to control vertical movement of the card collection surface. Thesensor may identify the position of the collection surface to place thetop card at a position level with the bottom of at least one cardsupporting element that is movable substantially horizontally from atleast one side of the collection area toward playing cards within thecard collection area.

In one example of the invention, an opening, such as a slot, is providedin a sidewall of the card collection area to permit transfer of cardsfrom the card receiving area into the card collection area. The sidewallmay comprise a substantially solid support structure, adjoining edges ofa plurality of vertical L-shaped corner support structures, or otherequivalent structure capable of retaining a stack of cards in asubstantially upright position. The microprocessor may be programmed todetermine a distance that the card supporting surface must be verticallymoved to position at least one specific card, including or other thanthe top card, at a bottom edge of the at least one card supportingelement when the card supporting element moves to contact cards withinthe card collection area. As previously described, the at least one cardsupporting element may comprise at least two elements, such as grippingpads that move from horizontally opposed sides of the collection areatoward playing cards within the card collection area.

The microprocessor may be programmed to lower the card collectionsurface within the card collection area after the at least one cardsupporting element has contacted and supported cards within the cardcollection area, creating two vertically spaced apart segments orsubstacks of cards. The microprocessor directs movement of an individualcard into the card supporting area between the two separated segments ofcards. The microprocessor may direct movement of playing card movingelements within the device. The microprocessor randomly assigns finalpositions for each card within the initial set of playing cards, andthen directs the device to arrange the initial set of playing cards intothose randomly assigned final positions to form a final set ofrandomized playing cards. Each card is inserted into the building stackof collected (randomized or shuffled) cards by positioning them inrespect to the other cards already in the stack. Thus, even if a firstcard is not intended to be adjacent to a particular card, but isintended to be above that particular card, the first card is positionedabove (and possibly adjacent to) the particular card, and interveningcards in the intended sequence added between the first card and theparticular card.

In one embodiment of the invention, the card receiving area is locatedsuch that individual cards are fed off of the bottom of the stack,through the slot formed in the card collection area, directly beneaththe gripping elements. In another example of the invention, a cardloading elevator is provided so that the cards can be loaded into thecard receiving area at an elevation higher than that of the firstembodiment. The elevator then lowers the cards to a vertical positionaligned with the feed mechanism.

When the device is used to process large batches of cards, such asgroups of eight decks, it is desirable to provide a feed elevator tolower the entire batch of cards beneath the top surface of the shufflerprior to shuffling. The card feeding mechanism from the card receivingarea to the card collection or shuffling area is necessarily positionedlower in a shuffler that processes more cards than in a shuffler thatprocesses fewer cards.

When a large number of cards is to be inserted into the machine forshuffling, a retaining structure may be provided, consisting of a cardstop or frame to limit card movement on up to three sides of theelevator. The open side or sides permit the dealer to load the stackfrom the side of the elevator, rather than trying to load the elevatorfrom above, and allowing cards to fall freely and turn over.

A randomizing elevator is provided for moving the cards being randomizedand operates to raise and lower the bottom card support surface of thecard collection area. This elevator moves during randomization, and alsoaids in the delivery of the shuffled group of cards by raising theshuffled cards to a delivery area. Reference to the figures will assistin appreciation and enablement of the practice of the present invention.Upwardly extending sidewalls on the card collection surface, an elevatorarm or extension of an elevator arm, or another element attached to thearm may move with the elevator and be used to move other portions of theshuffling apparatus. For example, the arm extension may be used to lifthinged or sliding covers over the cards as the cards are raised above acertain level that exceeds the normal shuffling elevation of theelevator.

FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a top surface 4 of a firstshuffling apparatus 2 according to a practice of the invention. In thisexample of the invention, the shuffling apparatus 2 randomizes one ortwo decks of cards (not shown). The shuffling apparatus 2 has a cardaccepting/receiving area 6 that is preferably provided with a stationarylower support surface that slopes downwardly from a nearest outer side 9of the shuffling apparatus 2. A depression 10 is provided in thatnearest outer side 9 to facilitate an operator's ability to place orremove cards into the card accepting/receiving area 6. The top surface 4of the shuffling apparatus 2 is provided with a visual display 12 (e.g.,LED, liquid crystal, micromonitor, semiconductor display, etc.), and aseries of buttons, touch pads, lights and/or displays 24, 26, 28, and30. These elements on the top surface 4 of the shuffling apparatus 2 mayact to indicate power availability (on/off), shuffler state (jam, activeshuffling, completed shuffling cycle, insufficient numbers of cards,missing cards, sufficient numbers of cards, complete deck(s), damaged ormarked cards, entry functions for the dealer to identify the number ofplayers, the number of cards per hand, access to fixed programming forvarious games, the number of decks being shuffled, card calibrationinformation, and the like), or other information useful to the operatoror casino.

Also shown in FIG. 1 is a separation plate 20 with a beveled edge 21 andtwo manual access facilitating recesses 22 that assists an operator inaccessing and removing jammed cards between the card accepting/receivingarea 6 and a shuffled card return area 32. The shuffled card return area32 is shown to be provided with an elevator surface 14 and two separatedcard supporting sides 34. In a preferred embodiment, sides 34 areremovable. When the shuffling apparatus 2 is flush-mounted into andsurrounded by the top of a gaming table surface, removal of sides 34enables the shuffling apparatus 2 to lift shuffled groups of cards ontothe gaming table surface for immediate use. The card supporting sides 34surround a portion of the elevator surface 14 with interior faces 16 andblocking extensions 18. It is desirable to provide rounded or bevelededges 11 on edges that may come into contact with cards to preventscratching, catching or snagging of cards, or scratching of operators'fingers or hands.

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway side view of a first embodiment of a shufflingapparatus 102 according to the present invention. A top surface 104 isshown with a separation plate 120 and side panels 134 (card supportingsides) of a shuffled card return area 132. A card accepting/receivingarea 106 is recessed with respect to the top surface 104 and is shownwith a declining sloping support surface 108. At a front 135 of thesloping support surface 108 is an opening 136 (not able to be seen inthe direct side view) or slot through which a bottom pick-off roller 138may contact a bottom card in an unshuffled set of cards (not shown)within the card accepting/receiving area 106. The bottom pick-off roller138 drives a card in direction 140 by frictional contact toward a firstpair of nip rollers or offset rollers 142. In one example of theinvention, the upper roller of offset rollers 142 is a break roller.This break roller retains the second top card for separation in theevent that two cards are fed at the same time. In a preferred form ofthe invention, the upper roller does not rotate. In another form of theinvention, the upper roller rotates, but is rotationally constrained.

There are an additional two pairs of nip rollers or offset rollers 144and 146 acting in concert (or only one pair is being driven) to movecards first moved by the first set of nip rollers 142. In a preferredpractice of the present invention, the operation of the apparatus 102may perform in the following manner. When a card (not shown) is movedfrom the unshuffled card accepting/receiving area 106, eventuallyanother card in a stack of cards within the card accepting/receivingarea 106 is exposed. The apparatus 102 is designed, programmed andcontrolled to operate so that individual cards are moved into the firstset of nip rollers or offset rollers 142. If more than one card from thecard accepting/receiving area 106 advances at any given time (even if inpartial sequence, with a portion of one card overlapping another card),it will be more difficult or even impossible for the apparatus 102 todirect individual cards into predetermined positions and shuffle thecards randomly.

If two cards are moved at the same time and positioned adjacent to eachother, this uncontrollably decreases the randomness of the shufflingapparatus 102. It is therefore desirable to provide a capability wherebywhen a card is moved into the control area of the first set of niprollers or offset rollers 142, the drive function of the bottom pick-offroller 138 ceases on that card and/or before the bottom pick-off roller138 drives the next card. This can be effected by a wide variety oftechniques controlled or directed by a microprocessor, circuit board,programmable intelligence or fixed intelligence within the apparatus102, such as microprocessor 160, as shown in FIG. 2.

Among the non-limiting examples of these techniques are: 1) a sensor sothat when a pre-selected portion of the card (e.g., leading edge,trailing edge, and mark or feature on the card) passes a reading device,such as an optical reader, the bottom pick-off roller 138 is directed todisengage, revolve freely, or withdraw from the bottom of the set ofcards; 2) the first set of nip rollers or offset rollers 142 may have asurface speed that is greater than the surface speed of the bottompick-off roller 138, so that engagement of a card applies tensionagainst the bottom pick-off roller 138 and the roller disengages withfree-rolling gearing, so that no forward-moving (in direction 140)forces are applied to the first card or any other card exposed uponmovement of the first card; 3) a timing sequence so that, upon movementof the bottom pick-off roller 138 for a defined period of time or for adefined amount of rotation (which correlates into a defined distance ofmovement of the first card), the bottom pick-off roller 138 disengages,withdraws, or otherwise stops applying forces against the first card andthereby avoids applying forces against any other cards exposed bymovement of the first card from the card accepting/receiving area 106;and 4) providing a stepped surface (not shown) between bottom pick-offroller 138 and offset rollers 142 that contacts a leading edge of eachcard and will cause a card to be held up or retained in the event thatmore than one card feeds at a time.

The cards are eventually intended to be fed, one at a time from finalnip rollers or offset rollers 146 into a card mixing area 150. The cardsin the card mixing area 150 are supported on elevator platform 156. Theelevator platform 156 moves the stack of cards present in the cardmixing area 150 up and down as a group in proximity with a pair ofseparation elements 154. The pair of separation elements 154 grips anupper portion of cards, and supports those cards while the elevatorplatform 156 drops sufficiently to provide an opening for insertion of acard into the stack at the level of the nip between final nip rollers oroffset rollers 146. This movement within the apparatus 102 in theperformance of the shuffling sequence offers a significant speedadvantage in the shuffling operation as compared to U.S. Pat. No.5,683,085, especially as the number of cards in the card mixing area 150increases. Rather than having to lower the entire stack of cards to thebottom of the card receiving area and reposition the pickers (asrequired by U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085), the cards in the present apparatus102 may be dropped by the pickers or the elevator platform 156 needs tomove only a slight distance to recombine the cards supported by the pairof separation elements 154 (a gripper, and insertion support, fingers,friction engaging support, rubber fingers, etc.) with the cardssupported on the elevator platform 156.

The stationary pair of gripping pads also maintains the alignment of thepads with respect to each other and grips the cards more securely thanthe device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,085, reducing or eliminatingthe unintentional dropping of a card or cards that were intended to begripped, rather than lowered. Whenever cards are dropped, the randomnessof the final shuffle may be adversely affected. Cards may also flipover, causing misdeals. Although the first example of the inventionshows a pair of oppositely positioned gripping members, it is possibleto utilize just one gripper. For example, the opposite vertical supportsurface could be equipped with a rubber or neoprene strip, increasingfrictional contact, allowing only one gripper to suspend groups ofcards.

The elevator of a device with stationary grippers may then be moved tothe next directed separation position, which would require, on average,less movement than having to reset the entire deck to the bottom of thecard supporting area and then moving the picker, and then raising thepicker to the card insertion point, as required in U.S. Pat. No.5,683,085.

The microprocessor 160 controls and directs the operation of theshuffling apparatus 102. The microprocessor 160 also receives andresponds to information provided to it. For example, a set of sensingdevices, such as sensors 152, are used to determine the movement pointof the elevator platform 156 that positions the top card in a set ofcards (not shown) within the card mixing area 150 at a specificelevation. The sensors 152 identify when an uppermost card on theelevator platform 156 or the top of the elevator platform 156 itself islevel with the sensors 152. This information is provided to themicroprocessor 160. A reading system 170 may also be used to provideinformation, such as the number of cards that have been fed from thecard accepting/receiving area 106 into the card mixing area 150, so thatthe number of cards shuffled and the number of cards present on theelevator platform 156 at any given time is known. This information, suchas the number of cards present within the card mixing area 150, is usedby the microprocessor 160, as later explained, to determine cardthickness and to randomly arrange and thus shuffle cards according tothe programming of the system.

For example, the programming may be performed as follows. The number ofcards in a set of cards intended to be used in the system is enteredinto the memory of the microprocessor. Each card in the set of cards isprovided with a specific number that is associated with that particularcard, herein referred to as the “original position number.” This is mostconveniently done by assigning numbers according to positions within theoriginal (unshuffled) set of cards. If cards are fed from the bottom ofthe stack into the randomizing apparatus, cards are assigned numbersfrom the bottom to the top. If cards are fed from the top of the stackor the front of a stack supported along its bottom edges, then the cardsare numbered from top to bottom, or front to rear.

A random number generator (which may be part of the microprocessor 160,may be a separate component, may be software or may be external to thedevice) then assigns a random position number to each card within theoriginal set of cards, the random position number being the randomlydetermined final position that each card will occupy in the randomlyassociated set of cards ultimately resulting in a shuffled set of cards.The microprocessor 160 identifies each card by its original positionnumber. This is most easily done when the original position numberdirectly corresponds to its actual position in the set, such as thebottommost card being CARD 1, the next card being CARD 2, the next cardbeing CARD 3, etc. The microprocessor 160, taking the random positionnumber, then directs the elevator platform 156 to move into positionwhere the card can be properly inserted into the randomized or shuffledset of cards. For example, a set of randomized positions selected by arandom number generator for a single deck is provided below. OPN is theOriginal Position Number and RPN is the Random Position Number.

OPN RPN 1 13 2 6 3 39 4 51 5 2 6 12 7 44 8 40 9 3 10 17 11 25 12 1 13 4914 10 15 21 16 29 17 33 18 11 19 52 20 5 21 18 22 28 23 34 24 9 25 48 2616 27 14 28 31 29 50 30 7 31 46 32 23 33 41 34 19 35 35 36 26 37 42 38 839 43 40 4 41 20 42 47 43 37 44 30 45 24 46 38 47 15 48 36 49 45 50 3251 27 52 22

The sequence of steps in the shuffling or randomizing procedure may bedescribed as follows for the above table of card OPN's and RPN's. OPNCARD 1 is carried from the card accepting/receiving area 106 to thefinal nip rollers or offset rollers 146. The final nip rollers or offsetrollers 146 place CARD 1 onto the top of the elevator platform 156,which has been appropriately positioned by sensors 152. OPN CARD 2 isplaced on top of CARD 1, without the need for any gripping or lifting ofcards. The microprocessor 160 identifies the RPN position of CARD 3 asbeneath both CARD 1 and CARD 2, so the elevator platform 156 lifts thecards to the separation elements 154 that grip both CARD 1 and CARD 2,then support those two cards while the elevator platform 156 retracts,allowing CARD 3 to be placed between the elevator platform 156 and thetwo supported cards. The two cards (CARD 1 and CARD 2) are then placedon top of CARD 3 supported by the elevator platform 156. The fourth card(CARD 4) is assigned position RPN 51. The elevator platform 156 wouldposition the three cards in the pile so that all three cards would belifted by the card separation elements 154, and the fourth card would beinserted between the three cards (CARD 1, CARD 2 and CARD 3) and theelevator platform 156. The fifth card (CARD 5) has an RPN of 2, so thatthe apparatus 102 merely requires that the four cards be positionedbelow the insertion point from the final nip rollers or offset rollers146 by lowering the elevator platform 156. Positioning of the sixth card(CARD 6) with an RPN of 12 requires that the elevator platform 156 raisethe complete stack of cards, the sensors 152 sense the top of the stackof cards, elevate the stack of cards so that the separation elements 154grip only the top two cards (RPN positions 2 and 6), lower the elevatorplatform 156 slightly, and then CARD 6 with an RPN of 12 can be properlyinserted into an opening in the developing randomized set of cards. Thistype of process is performed until all 52 cards (for a single-deck game)or all 104 cards (for a double-deck game) are randomly associated intothe final randomized set or shuffled set of cards. The apparatus 102 maybe designed for groups of cards larger than single 52-card decks,including 52-card decks with or without special (wild cards or jokers)cards, special decks, two 52-card decks, and two 52-card decks plusspecial cards. Larger groupings of cards (e.g., more than 108 cards) mayalso be used, but the apparatus 102 of the first example of theinvention has been shown as optimized for one- or two-deck shuffling.

Elevation of the elevator platform 156 may be effected by any number ofcommercially available systems. Motivation is preferably provided by asystem with a high degree of consistency and control over the movementof the elevator, both in individual moves (e.g., individual steps orpulses) and in collective movement of the elevator (the steps orrevolutions made by the moving system). It is important that theelevator be capable of providing precise and refined movement andrepeated movements that do not exceed one card's thickness. If theminimum degree of movement of the elevator exceeds one card's thickness,then precise positioning could not be effected. It is preferred that thedegree of control of movement of the elevator does not exceed at leastone-half of one card's thickness. In this manner, precise positioning ofthe cards with respect to the separation elements 154 can be effected.Additionally, it is often desirable to standardize, adjust, or calibratethe position of the elevator (and/or cards on the elevator) at leastonce, and often at intervals, to ensure proper operation of theapparatus 102. In one example of the invention, the microprocessor 160calls for periodic recalibration, and provides the dealer with a warningor calibration instructions on the display 12 (FIG. 1).

As later described, a microstepping motor or other motor capable ofprecise, small, and controlled movements is preferred. The steps, forexample, may be of magnitudes that are smaller than the thickness of acard, such as, for example, individual steps of 0.0082 inch(approximately less than one card's thickness), 0.0041 inch (less thanone-half of a card's thickness), 0.00206 inch (less than aboutone-quarter of a card's thickness), 0.0010 inch (less than aboutone-eighth of a card's thickness), 0.00050 inch (less than aboutone-sixteenth of a card's thickness), 0.00025 inch (less than aboutone-thirty-second of a card's thickness) 0.000125 inch (less than aboutone-sixty-fourth of a card's thickness), etc.

Particularly desirable elevator control mechanisms would be servosystems or stepper motors and geared or treaded drive belts (essentiallymore like digital systems). Stepper motors, such as microstepper motors,are commercially available that can provide, or can be readily adjustedto provide, incremental movements that are equal to or less than onecard's thickness, including whole fractions of card thicknesses, andindefinite percentages of card thicknesses. Exact correspondence betweensteps and card thickness is not essential, especially where the stepsare quite small compared to the card thickness. For example, with a cardthickness of about 0.279 mm, the steps may be 0.2 mm, 0.15 mm, 0.1 mm,0.08 mm, 0.075 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.01 mm, 0.001 mm, or smaller, andmost values therebetween. It is most desirable to have smaller values,as some values, such as the 0.17 mm value of a step, can cause thegripper in the separation element to extend over both a target positionto be separated and the next lower card in the stack to be gripped, withno intermediate stepping position being available. This is within thecontrol of the designer once the fundamentals of the process have beenunderstood according to the present description of the practice of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 2, a drive belt 164 is attached to two driverollers 166 which move the elevator platform 156. The belt 164 is drivenby a stepper motor system 171, which is capable of 0.00129-inch(0.003-mm) steps.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective of the sets of nip rollers oroffset rollers 142, 144 and 146 of a first example of the invention.These are not truly sets of nip rollers, but are offset rollers, so thatrollers 142 a and 142 b (not shown), 144 a and 144 b, 146 a and 146 bare not precisely linearly oriented. By selecting a nip width that isnot so tight as to press a card from both sides of the card at a singleposition, and by selecting offset rollers rather than aligned niprollers, fluid movement of the card, reduced damage to the card, andreduced jamming may be provided. This is a particularly desirable aspectof a preferred practice of the present invention, which is shown also inFIG. 4.

FIG. 4 shows a set of offset rollers 144 a, 144 b, 144 c, 144 d and 144e transporting a card 200. The card 200 is shown passing over rollers144 a and 144 d and under rollers 144 b, 144 c and 144 e. As can beseen, the rollers are not capable of contacting a card to preciselyoverlap at a specific point on opposite sides of a card.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a grippingsystem 204 that may be used in the practice of the invention. FIG. 5shows two oppositely spaced support arms 206 and 208 that supportgripping elements 210 and 212, which comprise semi-rigid gripping pads214 and 216. These gripping pads 214 and 216 may be smooth, grooved,covered with high-friction material (e.g., rubber or neoprene), ribbed,straight, sloped, or the like, to take advantage of various physicalproperties and actions. The support arms 206 and 208 are attached toseparately movable positioning arms 218 and 220. These positioning arms218 and 220 are referred to as separately movable, in that they are notphysically connected, but one tends to move from left to right while theother moves right to left (with respect to the view shown in FIG. 5) asthe two positioning arms 218 and 220 move in and out (substantiallyhorizontally) to grip or release the cards. However, preferably, they donot move independently, but should move in concert. It is also desirablethat they are fixed with respect to the vertical. If the positioningarms 218 and 220 moved completely independently (horizontally, duringgripping), with only one at a time moving to attempt to contact thecards, the first contacting arm could move cards out of verticalalignment. For this reason, it is preferred that two opposed grippingarms be used.

Although the positioning arms 218 and 220 may not move the gripping pads214 and 216 into contact with absolute precision, they should contactopposite edges of the cards at approximately the same time, withoutmoving any card more than 5% of the length of the card (if contactedlengthwise) or 7% of the width of the card (if contacting the cardswidthwise). An example of one mechanism for moving the positioning arms218 and 220 in concert is by having a drive belt 226 that engagesopposite sides of two connectors 222 and 224 that are attached topositioning arms 220 and 218, respectively. The belt 226 contacts theseconnectors 222 and 224 on opposite sides, such as contacting connector224 on the rear side, and contacting connector 222 on the front side. Asthe belt 226 is driven by rotors 228 and 230, with both rotors 228 and230 turning in direction 232, connector 222 will be moved from left toright, and connector 224 will be moved from right to left. This willlikewise move gripping pads 214 and 216 inwardly to grip cards. The useof such pads is much preferred over the use of rigid, pointed, spatulaelements to separate cards, as these can damage cards, which not onlyincreases the need for replacement, but also marks cards, which couldreduce security.

Alternative constructions comprise a flat elastic or a rubbery surfacewith knobs or nubs that extend upwardly from the surface to grab cardswhen pressed into contact with the sides of the cards. These elementsmay be permanently affixed to the surfaces of the pickers or may beindividually removable and replaceable. The knobs and the flat surfacemay be made of the same or different materials, and may be made ofrelatively harder or softer, relatively rigid or relatively flexiblematerials according to design parameters.

The apparatus may also contain additional features, such as card readingsensor(s) (e.g., an optical sensor, a neural sensing network, a videoimaging apparatus, a bar code reader, etc.) to identify suits and ranksof cards; feed means for feeding cards sequentially past the sensor atvarious points within the apparatus; storing areas in which the cardsare stored in a desired order or random order; selectively programmableartificial intelligence coupled to the sensor(s) and to the storingareas to assemble in the storing areas groups of articles in a desiredorder; delivery systems for selectively delivering the individualarticles into the storing areas; and collector areas for collectingcollated or randomized subgroups of cards.

The sensor(s) may include the ability to identify the presence of anarticle in particular areas, the movement or lack of movement inparticular areas, the rank and/or value of a card, spurious orcounterfeit cards, and marked cards. This can be suitably effected byproviding the sensor with the capability of identifying one or morephysical attributes of an article. This includes the sensor having themeans to identify indicia on a surface of an article. The desired ordermay be a specific order of one or more decks of cards to be sorted intoits original pack order or other specific order, or it may be a randomorder into which a complete set of articles is delivered from aplurality of sets of randomly arranged articles. For example, thespecific order may be effected by feeding cards into the card acceptingarea with a sensor identifying the suit and rank, and having apre-established program to assign cards, based upon their rank and suit,into particular distributions onto the elevator platform. For example, acasino may wish to arrange the cards into pack order at the end of ashift to verify all cards are present, or may want to deal cards out toeach table in a tournament in a specified random order. The sensing cantake place in the card receiving area when the cards are stationary, orwhile the cards are in motion.

The suit, rank, and position of all cards in the cardaccepting/receiving area will then be known, and the program can beapplied to the cards without the use of a random number generator, butwith the microprocessor identifying the required position for that cardof particular suit and rank. The card may also be read between theoffset rollers or between the last offset roller and the platform,although this last system will be relatively slow, as the information asto the card content will be known at such a late time that the platformcannot be appropriately moved until the information is obtained.

For example, the desired order may be a complete pack of randomlyarranged playing cards sorted from holding means which holds multipledecks, or a plurality of randomly oriented cards forming a plurality ofpacks of cards. This may be achieved by identifying the individual cardsby optical readers, scanners or any other means, and then, under controlof a computer means, such as a microprocessor, placing an identifiedcard into a specific collector means to ensure delivery of completedecks of cards in the desired compartment. The random number generatoris used to place individual cards into random positions to ensure randomdelivery of one to eight or more decks of cards, depending on the sizeof the device.

In one aspect the invention, the apparatus is adapted to provide one ormore shuffled packs of cards, such as one or two decks for poker gamesor blackjack. According to another aspect of the invention, a method ofrandomizing a smaller or larger group of cards is accomplished using thedevice of the present invention. According to the invention, the methodincludes the steps of: 1) placing a group of cards to be randomized intoa card infeed tray; 2) removing cards individually from the card infeedtray and delivering the cards into a card collection area, the cardcollection area having a movable lower surface and a stationary openingfor receiving cards from the infeed tray; 3) elevating the movable lowersurface to a randomly determined height; 4) grasping at least one edgeof a group of cards in the card collection area at a point just abovethe stationary opening; 5) lowering the movable lower surface to createan opening in a stack of cards formed on the lower surface, the openinglocated just beneath a lowermost point where the cards are grasped; and6) inserting a card removed from the infeed tray into the opening.According to the method of the present invention, steps 2 through 6 arerepeated until all of the cards originally present in the infeed trayare processed, forming a randomized group of cards.

As described above, the method and apparatus of the present inventioncan be used to randomize groups of cards, as well as sort cards into aparticular desired order. When sensing equipment is used to detect rankand suit of the cards, the cards can be arranged in any predeterminedorder according to the invention. It is to be understood that numerousvariations of the present invention are contemplated, and the disclosureis not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the examplesdescribed above. For example, it might be advantageous to tip the cardmixing area 150 (FIG. 2) slightly such that a top portion is furtheraway from the card accepting/receiving area 106 than a bottom portion.This would assist in aligning the stack vertically in area 150 and wouldincrease the efficiency and accuracy of the randomization or orderingprocess. In one preferred embodiment, the card mixing area 150 is tippedbetween 3 degrees and 8 degrees from the vertical.

In another embodiment of the invention, the shuffler is mounted into thetable such that infeed tray or card accepting/receiving area 106 isrecessed beneath the top surface of a gaming table, and a lowerhorizontal surface of elevator platform 156 in the delivery area orshuffled card return area 132 in its upright position is flush with theelevation of the gaming table surface.

Although the machine can sit on the tabletop, it is preferably mountedon a bracket having a support surface located beneath the gaming tablesurface, and is completely surrounded by the tabletop, enabling a dealerto obtain and return cards without undue lifting above the surface ofthe gaming table. In one embodiment, the entire shuffler is mounted intothe gaming table such that the infeed tray and card return areas areeither flush or approximately flush with the gaming table surface. Suchan arrangement would be particularly suited for use in conventionalpoker rooms.

In a second example of the invention, the device is configured toprocess larger groups of cards, such as a stack of eight complete decks.The individual components operate in much the same manner, but thespecific configuration is designed to accommodate the greater height ofthe stack.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of another apparatus 500 according tothe invention. The apparatus 500 is shown with a flip-up cover 502 withsections 504 and 506 that overlie an elevator platform 512 and a cardinsertion area 510. An extension or tab 507 is provided to nest intoopen area 508 to assist lifting of the flip-up cover 502 when needed.The open area 508 leaves some additional space for a finger or tool tobe inserted against the extension 507 to assist in its lifting. Thatadditional space may be designed to accommodate only a tool so as toreduce any possibility of a player opening of the shuffling apparatus500. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provided anarm extension 514 of the elevator platform 512 that contacts an internaledge 513 of the flip-up cover 502, here with a roller 515 shown as thecontact element, to lift the flip-up cover 502 when the elevatorplatform 512 rises to a level where cards are to be removed, theextension 514 forcing the flip-up cover 502 to lift from a top surface517 of the apparatus 500. The extension 514 also will buffer playingcards from moving as they are lifted from the elevator platform 512,although additional elements (not shown) may be used to restrainmovement of the cards when elevated to a removal level. In this exampleof the invention, side panels are not used to stabilize the stack ofdelivered cards.

FIG. 6 also shows a display panel 516, which may be any format of visualdisplay, particularly those such as LED panels, liquid crystal panels,CRT displays, plasma displays, digital or analog displays, dot-matrixdisplays, multi-segment displays, fixed-panel multiple-light displays,or the like, to provide information to a viewer (e.g., dealer, casinopersonnel, etc.). The display panel 516 may show any information usefulto users of the apparatus 500, and show such information in sufficientdetail as to enable transfer of significant amounts of information. Suchinformation might include, by way of non-limiting examples, the numberof cards present in the apparatus, the status of any shuffling ordealing operations (e.g., the number of complete shuffling cycles), handinformation (such as the number of hands to be dealt, the number ofhands that have been dealt, the number of cards in each hand, theposition to which a hand has been dealt, etc.), security information(e.g., card jam identification, location of card jams, location of stuckcards, excess cards in the container, insufficient cards in thecontainer, unauthorized entry into the apparatus, etc.), confirmationinformation (e.g., indicating that the apparatus is properlycorresponding to an information-receiving facility, such as a network ormicroprocessor at a distal or proximal location), on/off status,self-check status, and any other information about play or the operationof the apparatus that would be useful. It is preferred that the displaypanel 516 and the software driving the display panel 516 be capable ofgraphics display, not merely alphanumeric.

Buttons 518 and 520 can be on/off buttons, special-function buttons(e.g., raise elevator to the card delivery position, operate jamsequence, reshuffle demand, security check, card count demand, etc.),and the like. A sensor 524 (e.g., optical sensor, pressure sensor,magnetic detector, sonar detector, etc.) is shown on the elevatorplatform 512 to detect the presence of cards or other objects on theelevator platform 512.

FIG. 7 is a side cutaway view of an apparatus 600 according to an aspectof the invention, which may be compared with FIG. 2 to provide anexplanation of components and some of the variations possible within thepractice of the invention. For example, the use of two belt drive motors662 and 664 versus the three shown in FIG. 2 allows for the apparatus600 to be shortened, with motor 662 driving a belt 666 that moves threerollers 668, 669 and 670. The pair of rollers 144 is removed from thisexample of the invention as superfluous. The two drive rollers 166 inFIG. 2 that raise the elevator platform 156 are partially eliminated byhaving an elevator drive belt 672 driven by a motor 674 and an attachedspindle 676, which have been positioned in direct alignment with thedrive belt 672 in FIG. 7, instead of the right-angle, double-beltconnection shown in FIG. 2. Again, as the drive belt 672 moves farenough to display cards (not shown) on an elevator platform 612, anextension 614 presses against an edge 613 of a cover section 604,elevating a cover top 602. The apparatus 600 is actually preferablyconfigured with sections 604 and 606 separated along area 680 so thatthey move independently. By separating these sections 604 and 606, onlythe cards readied for delivery are exposed, and access to area 682 whereunshuffled cards are to be inserted is more restricted, especiallywhere, as noted above, a tool or implement is needed to raise the coversection corresponding to section 606 so that the unshuffled cards maynot be too readily accessed.

In FIG. 7, the motors 662, 664 and 674 are preferably highly controlledin the degree of their movement. For example, one of the methods ofproviding precise control of motor movement is with microstepped motors.Such microstepping of motors controls the precise amount of movementcaused by the motor. This is especially important in motor 674 thatdrives the elevator platform 612 that in turn carries the cards (notshown) to be separated for random card insertion. With microstepping,the movement of the cards can readily be controlled to less than acard's thickness per microstep. With such control, with movements permicrostep of no more than 0.9 times a card's thickness, and, preferably,movements per microstep of less than 0.8 times a card's thickness, lessthan 0.5 times a card's thickness, less than 0.4 times a card'sthickness, less than one-third of a card's thickness, less thanone-quarter of a card's thickness, less than 0.20 times a card'sthickness, and even less than 0.05 times a card's thickness, muchgreater assurance of exact positioning of the elevator platform 612 andthe cards thereon can be provided, further ensuring that cards will beinserted exactly where requested by operation of the microprocessor.Sensing elements 684 may be positioned within a picker or grabbingelement 686 to analyze the position of the picker or grabbing element686 with respect to cards being separated to determine if cards havebeen properly aligned with the picker or grabbing element 686 andproperly separated. The picker or grabbing elements 686 mayalternatively be physically protruding sub-elements that grab smallareas of cards, such as rubber or elastomeric bumps, plastic bumps,metal nubs, or the like. Sensors may alternatively be placed on othersurfaces adjacent the picker or grabbing element 686, such as walls 688or 690 or other adjacent walls or elements. For increased security andenhanced performance, it is preferred that multiple sensors be used,preferably multiple sensors that are spaced apart with regard to edgesof the cards, and multiple sensors (i.e., at least two sensors) that arepositioned so that not only the height can be sensed, but alsomisalignment or sloping, or bending of cards at different locations orpositions. The sensors can work independently of or in tandem with themicroprocessor/step motor/encoder operation.

The microstep motors will also assist the apparatus in internal checksfor the correct position. For example, an encoder can be used to checkthe exact position of the elevator with regard to the measured movementand calculation of the precise movement of the elevator platform andhence the cards. The encoder can evaluate the position of the elevatorplatform through analysis and evaluation of information regarding, forexample, the number of pulses per revolution of the spindle 676 on themotor 674, which may be greater than 100 pulses per revolution, greaterthan 250 pulses per revolution, greater than 360 pulses per revolution,greater than 500 or greater than 750 pulses per revolution, and inpreferred embodiments, greater than 1000 pulses per revolution, greaterthan 1200 pulses per revolution, and equal to or greater than 1440pulses per revolution. In operation, the microprocessor moves the motor,the encoder counts the amount of movement driven by the motor, and thendetermines the actual position of the elevator platform or a space(e.g., four cards higher) relative to the elevator platform. The sensorsmay or may not be used to determine the correct position, initiallycalibrate movement and sensing positions on the platform, or as asecurity check.

An additional design improvement with respect to the apparatus 102 ofFIG. 2 and that of the apparatus 500 and 600 of FIGS. 6 and 7,respectively, is the elimination of a staging area in the apparatusdesign of FIG. 1. After a card (not shown) in FIG. 2 passes from rollers142 to rollers 144, but before being passed to rollers 146, the cardwould be held, or staged, by rollers 144. This can be eliminated by thedesign of rollers 668, 669, and 670 shown in FIG. 7, with the movementof the cards timed to the movement of the elevator platform 512, 612 andthe separation of the cards by the pickers or grabbing elements 686.

The apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 6 is also provided with an outer flange528 extending around an upper edge 530 of a top surface 517 of theapparatus 500 that may be used to attach and support the apparatus 500to a table or support the apparatus 500 so that the top surface 517 isrelatively parallel to the surface of the table.

The use of a shuffler whose shuffling mechanism is concealed completelybeneath the gaming table surface potentially poses security issues to acasino. In the event of a system malfunction, the dealer might not beaware that a shuffling sequence has failed. Since there is no way tovisualize the shuffling routine, and in order to avoid instances wherethe display lights may malfunction and erroneously show a shufflingsequence has been completed, an added level of security has beenprovided to the shuffler of the present invention.

According to the present invention, a number of cards to be randomizedand the order of insertion of each card into the card randomizing orshuffling compartment is predetermined by the random number generatorand microprocessor. By adding an encoder to the motor or motors drivingthe elevator, and by sensing the presence of groups of suspended cards,the microprocessor can compare the data representing the commands andthe resulting movements to verify a shuffle has occurred. In the absenceof this verification, the shuffler can send a signal to the display toindicate a misdeal, to a central pit computer to notify management ofthe misdeal, to a game table computer (if any) with an output display tonotify the dealer of a misdeal, to a central computer that notifiessecurity, to a central system for initiating maintenance calls, or tocombinations of the above.

Such a system is referred to as a “closed loop” system because themicroprocessor creates the commands and then receives system signalsverifying that the commands were properly executed.

Although the dealer control panel and display in the above examples ofthe present invention are located on the card shuffler, the presentinvention contemplates user-operated remote controls, such as a footpedal, an infrared remote control, the input of commands from a remotekeyboard in the pit, or other device initiated by a dealer or bymanagement. Unlike the shuffler operation driven by software from a gamecomputer, pit computer or central computer system, the shuffler of thepresent invention is controllable by an operator using remote equipmentsuch as what is described above.

Although the randomizing system has been described as a verticallydisposed stack of cards with a means for gripping a portion of thecards, and lowering the remaining cards to form two separate subgroups,forming an insertion point, the invention contemplates the use of ashuffler with a carousel-type card collection area. The gripping pads inthis example of the invention grip a portion of cards that arehorizontally disposed, and the card collection area rotated to create aninsertion point for the next card. The cards are pushed out one at atime, or in groups to a card collection area.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a perspective view of another embodiment of ashuffling machine 700 of the present invention is shown mounted to ashuffler support plate 702 behind a gaming table (not shown) that may ormay not be modified to accommodate placement of the support plate 702.

In this example of the invention, cards are loaded into an infeed tray706. In one example of the invention (not shown), the lower surface ofthe infeed tray 706 is substantially horizontal and is provided so thatcards can be loaded into a top surface 708 of the shuffling machine 700,and then lowered beneath the gaming table surface for randomization.

The infeed tray 706 may be equipped with a card support structuresimilar to the vertical support structure 712 surrounding delivery tray710, which in a preferred embodiment has two vertical supports and twosides left open. Cards may be loaded into the infeed tray 706 and a cardsupport structure (not shown), and lowered automatically in response tothe dealer pushing downwardly on the top of the stack of cards or upon asignal received from the dealer controls (not shown).

In this example of the invention, the loading station is positioned nearthe playing surface (for example, a casino table) and at the dealer'sside, allowing the shuffling machine 700 to be used without unnecessarystrain or unusual physical movement on the part of the dealer. Loadingand unloading large stacks of cards from the top of a machine that ismounted to eliminate lifting, straining or reaching large distancesaddresses a need long felt in the industry for a more ergonomicallyfriendly card shuffler.

The delivery tray 710 in the second described embodiment also includes atwo-sided vertical support structure 712 for supporting a group ofrandomized cards as the cards are raised to the top surface 708 of theshuffling machine 700. It is to be understood that the vertical supportstructures 712 are preferably secured to the delivery tray 710, butcould also be secured to the frame, and attached in a manner to “pop up”into position when needed.

A method of handling cards is described, including inserting the cardsinto a card infeed tray, feeding the cards into a card randomizationapparatus, capturing the randomized cards in a support structure andraising the cards and support structure to an upper surface of theshuffler. The method may comprise providing a retractable supportstructure for extracting shuffled cards, inserting shuffled cards intothe support structure while it is below the top surface of the device,moving the support structure to expose the cards and retracting thesupport structure both before and after card removal. The card infeedtray may also be positioned on an elevator capable of lowering the groupof cards into the apparatus prior to shuffling. When a second elevatoris used, it is preferable to provide a retractable support structure forsupporting the cards as the cards are lowered for shuffling.

The method preferably includes providing two separate support structuresthat support a vertically stacked group of cards on at least twosurfaces, and preferably three. The support structure can be a solidthree-sided box, could consist of three vertically disposed bars, twoparallel plates and two angle irons to retain corners, any otherstructure that keeps the stack in vertical alignment, or any othersuitable support structure. The structure can be fixed to the uppersurface of the shuffler, can be fixed to the elevators or can be affixedto the frame of the shuffler and constructed to “pop up” when needed forcard loading and unloading. Cover plates, such as hinged or rotatingplates, can be provided over the two elevators to provide additionalcover (e.g., dust cover and visual cover) over the card source and thecard collection areas to ensure that visual inspection of the shufflingprocedure can be reduced, and entry of foreign materials can be reduced.The cover plates should be light enough for the system to automaticallylift the covers or for a dealer to easily lift the covers manually. Thecards themselves may push up the cover plates, or a preceding post orelement can be positioned on the elevator or supports attached or movingconjointly with the elevators to press against the interior surface ofthe cover plates to lift the plates in advance of contact with thecards.

All of the apparatus, devices and methods disclosed and claimed hereincan be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the apparatus, devices and methods of thisinvention have been described in terms of both generic descriptions andpreferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat variations may be applied to the apparatus, devices and methodsdescribed herein without departing from the concept and scope of theinvention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain elements,components, steps, and sequences that are functionally related to thepreferred embodiments may be substituted for the elements, components,steps, and sequences described and/or claimed herein, while the same orsimilar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutions andmodifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to bewithin the scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Although a description of preferred embodiments has beenpresented, various changes, including those mentioned above, could bemade without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. It isdesired, therefore, that reference be made to the appended claims ratherthan to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of theinvention.

1. An automatic playing card shuffler, comprising: a housing mounted toa gaming table surface such that a playing card receiver for accepting agroup of conventional playing cards to be shuffled has a support surfacerecessed beneath the top of the gaming table surface when the group ofplaying cards is inserted from above the gaming table surface and placedonto the support surface in the card receiver below the gaming tablesurface; a randomizing system for randomizing the order of an initialset of playing cards; a collection surface for receiving randomizedplaying cards; an elevator for raising the collection surface to anelevation that enables a dealer to manually remove all randomizedplaying cards at one time from proximate the gaming table surface; and amicroprocessor for controlling the operation of the playing cardshuffler.
 2. The automatic card shuffler of claim 1, further comprisinga movable cover configured to be closed at least part of the time overat least one of the playing card receiver and the collection surface,wherein the movable cover is hinged to allow movement.
 3. An automaticplaying card shuffler, comprising: a housing mounted to a gaming tablesurface such that a playing card support surface in a playing cardreceiver for accepting a group of conventional playing cards to beshuffled can be recessed at a level beneath the top surface of thegaming table to which the housing is mounted during a shuffling event; arandomizing system for randomizing the order of an initial set ofplaying cards beneath the top surface of the gaming table during theshuffling event; a collection surface for receiving randomized playingcards; an elevator for raising the collection surface to an elevationwherein all randomized playing cards may be removed manually by a dealerat one time from the collection surface proximate the gaming tablesurface; a moveable cover over the collection surface and hinged to thehousing allowing and preventing manual access to the collection surfacewhen the moveable cover is opened and closed, respectively; and amicroprocessor for controlling the operation of the automatic playingcard shuffler.
 4. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 3,wherein the cover comprises a flip-up cover.
 5. The automatic playingcard shuffler of claim 3, wherein the cover is configured to bemechanically lifted by the automatic card shuffler.
 6. The automaticplaying card shuffler of claim 3, wherein the cover is configured torotate about a hinge.
 7. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 2,wherein the movable cover comprises a flip-up cover.
 8. The automaticplaying card shuffler of claim 2, wherein the movable cover isconfigured to be mechanically lifted by the automatic card shuffler. 9.The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 2, wherein the movablecover is configured to rotate about a hinge.
 10. An automatic playingcard shuffler, comprising: a housing; a playing card receiver disposedwithin the housing and having a support surface for accepting a group ofconventional playing cards to be shuffled; a randomizing system forrandomizing an order of the group of conventional playing cards disposedwithin the housing; a collection surface for receiving randomizedplaying cards disposed within the housing; an elevator disposed withinthe housing; and a microprocessor for controlling the operation of theplaying card shuffler disposed within the housing; wherein the housingis configured to be mounted to a gaming table such that the supportsurface is recessed beneath a top surface of the gaming table when thegroup of playing cards is inserted from above the top surface of thegaming table and placed onto the support surface; and wherein theelevator is configured to raise the collection surface to an elevationthat enables a dealer to manually remove all randomized playing cards atone time from proximate the top surface of the gaming table.
 11. Theautomatic playing card shuffler of claim 10, wherein the housing furthercomprises a movable cover over at least one of the playing card receiverand the collection surface.
 12. The automatic playing card shuffler ofclaim 11, wherein the movable cover is hinged to allow movement.
 13. Theautomatic playing card shuffler of claim 11, wherein the cover comprisesa flip-up cover.
 14. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 11,further comprising an arm extension configured to mechanically lift themovable cover.
 15. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 14,wherein the arm extension is further configured to limit movement of theplaying cards as the elevator raises the collection surface.
 16. Theautomatic playing card shuffler of claim 11, wherein the arm extensioncomprises a roller configured to contact the movable cover.
 17. Theautomatic playing card shuffler of claim 11, wherein the cover comprisesa sliding cover.
 18. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 10,wherein the playing card receiver comprises upwardly extending sidewalls.
 19. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 10, wherein thehousing comprises an outer flange extending around an upper edge of thehousing.
 20. The automatic playing card shuffler of claim 10, furthercomprising a sensor configured to detect the presence of playing cardson the elevator.